The Zakat Foundation of America

Mar 22, 2010

Zakat Foundation Palestinian resettlement program

Last year, the United Nations Commissioner for refugees urged the international community to come to the aid of the estimated 42 million refugees worldwide that are struggling with displacement as they flee from conflict and persecution. In 2009 the United States of America was the largest single recipient of new asylum claims in the world and the Chicago metropolitan area, where Zakat Foundation’ s main office is located, continues to serve as a “gateway city” for newcomers to the US.

The humanitarian organizations that support refugees in the US generally offer only three months of support, but we all know that often three months is not enough time for a newcomer to America to become acclimated to the language, customs, and daily life challenges of a large American city such as Chicago.

Through our US focused Social Services Program, Zakat Foundation has been assisting individual refugees from Somalia, Darfur, Iraq, and Palestine, and in past years has worked with a partner organization in Indiana to settle Somali and Bosnian refugees in the Indianapolis area.

Now, in response to an increase in the number of refugees being sent to the Chicago area, Zakat Foundation has begun a new Refugee Resettlement Program that is preparing to accept approximately 15 Palestinian refugee families who up until recently had been living in Iraq. Helping these families acclimate to life in America is an important responsibility that Zakat Foundation wholeheartedly accepts. Please donate to the Refugee Resettlement Program and help these Muslim families begin a new life in America with the caring support they need.